Kuragehime follows Tsukimi Kurashita, an 18-year-old who moved from Kagoshima to Tokyo to become an illustrator. Tsukimi is a jellyfish otaku who comes to live in a shared bath and toilet, women-only apartment, Amamizukan. Other tenants include fujoshi, NEETs and others who consider fashion their natural enemy, calling themselves "Amars". One day, Tsukimi meets a fashionable and beautiful girl, Kuranosuke Koibuchi, who saves a jellyfish that is about to die at a pet shop. She later discovers that Kuranosuke is merely cross-dressing in order to evade inheritance of his father's occupation as a politician.

Note: Won the Kodansha Manga Award for best shōjo manga in 2010 and was nominated for the 2010 Manga Taishō award.

Even though the story revolves around female otaku (fujoshi) and even though they get an image transformation, that transformation lasts for a few pages. So for the most part they continuously parade around as otaku. It's like reading about the ugly duckling that never becomes a swan, even when she's around the guy she likes. As for the rest of the otakus, makes you want to cringe when you see how awkard everyone is. The problem is that there's just so much verbiage but not enough character development, while most of the jokes were making fun of otakus. Also it's a daunting task having to follow the blooming romance between Shuu (the guy Tuskimi likes) and another woman. Lastly, there hasn't been any noticeable romance for Tuskimi, so far everything is about trying to save the building she lives in and watching as Shuu gets with another woman. Even Kuranosuke, the crossdresser, isn't connecting with Tuskimi romantically cause she's all about Shuu. While Kuranosuke is all about making dresses.

For some reason I avoided this manga like the plague when it first became recognized. I honestly can't tell you why; perhaps the cover art put me off. Eventually it seems that I picked it up, and instantly fell in love. The story has your typical shy, unsociable girl who has unrecognized talent and beauty. Like many manga, it has the "make-up transformation" cliche at times, but it's a little more unique than that.

Spoiler (mouse over to view)

All of the unsociable, misfit girls get makeovers, not just the main character!

Each character is so quirky and fun to love, you can't get enough of them. That's what really makes this manga so great. Also, I love the art style. It's rare to find such distinctive style now-a-days, and it's great to see.

*drools* I love this manga.It is ABSOLUTELY ORIGINAL.anyone who even THINKS of mentioning a DAMN CLICHE is WRONG.I personally don't care about cliches. BUT I get angry when people just force them down on a manga that doesn't have any =.= GOODNESS.ANYWAY

HAPPIER NOTE :!*Great art. C: The artwork is a unique style,and I really like it! *Characters. EACH ONE HAS THEIR OWN BACKGROUND*EVERYTHING.

I just realized, this manga has EVERYTHING you could want in a good manga, and all of those things x300 in AWESOMENESSS. So it's pointless for me to list off everything, when I can just say, it's not lacking a SINGLE thing, and it keeps coming up with surprises!

This is one of the few mangas that make me laugh out loud. c: I love the humor, >3< AND ITS JUST SO CUTE.

Gah.This manga is good for all ages. C: I'm 13, and I love it! Though it says its for older women.. guys and girls younger than me could love it, if they give it a chance.C:

Anyway.I'd rate it a 13 if I could. >.< Silly 10 limiting me!READ IT!

Ah, & also, this manga doesn't have any that relate to it. It is a one of a kind manga. c: There seriously aren't any other mangas that I could relate to this one xD. It's spectacular <3

The first chapters really didn't interest me, and i was about to stop reading it wondering why it had such high ratings, but at some point I started to really like it. The plot is original, and the art is kinda good. Some people might find it funny, I chuckled sometimes at most but it was still good in the end. So now I'm waiting for the next chapter like everyone else

This manga is truly one of the funniest you will ever read. In my searches, it came up a million times, but I passed over it looking at the picture (not the most flattering) and the description. I didn't know what a jellyfish otaku was then, so I had no idea it was literally an extreme love for jellyfish. But I finally started reading it, and I'm so happy I did. From the very first chapter, it had me in stitches. And not only is the story good, but you really come to love the characters. Every one of them has a very unique personality that you won't find anywhere else. The romance is nice too, it's not over the top, but the subtle hints will make your nose bleed. And the anime does a really great job of sticking to the storyline, so be sure to check it out.

One of the best manga I've picked up in recent memory. The story is fresh and exciting as well as ... well important for one. A group of outcast girls who join with an (unknown to all but one of them) crossdressing boy to try and protect their community - or rather their house - from being gobbled up in property development. Some politics but 98% innocence and comedy. There's probably going to be more on the romancey side later on, but right now saving the house is most important (chapter 31). And that's a big deal. There's romantic tension, but this story has it's values in proper order. Hard to bother with love affairs if you don't have a home or your trusted friends around you.

You know a mark of a good series? You start reading it then wish it had as many volumes as Skip Beat. Why? Because at this point, there are only 7 volumes out and I want there to be more. The story is well done enough that I and other readers will become Amars junkies.P.S. If having the hunky boyfriend is important to you ... this isn't your series. Wait a few years and then you'll appreciate it.

I love this manga. I'll say it again. I love this manga. There are very few mangas that I think deserve to be rated a 10. This however, is definitely one of them. I originally started reading it because of the anime, but after starting to read it, I found I enjoyed it even more. Now that the scanalators are into manga only material, its just getting better and better. The 2 main characters, the older brother. Even the other otakus, they're all so fun and enjoyable to see. The love and romance of a girl who thinks she is an ugly duckling, who is turned, almost against her will into a beautiful swan.

This is an amazing manga. I love how Kuranosuke fell for Tsukimi first! It is hilarious it is cute. I get really happy everytime a new chapter is released! All in all, it deserves my fan girl blushy face

As it's been said before, the cutest thing about this manga is the purity of the core characters. There are a few characters who are not naive (Kuronosuke and "that woman") but for the most part, it's the purity of Shuu and Tsukimi that keep you reading. Now, why is that? Bluntly, because their responses are adorable. Those adorable responses keep Kuronosuke and "that woman" off balance because they don't react the way they are used to people reacting. It's also attractive, leaving those two in confused bind.

What will keep me going, really, is seeing who gets the girl. I don't care one whit about "that woman," who I just mostly hope she gets her just desserts. I mean, who will get Tsukimi makes this interesting. The man who she fell for pretty much at first sight, or the man who helped her come so far?

Overall, this is a charming shojo that has adult themes, yet somehow maintains a core of innocence. The idea that all girls are princesses stays is a big one, and cross dressing is also a constant. Don't let that ruin your day. The manga has a pedigree and is well worth the read. Although it's shojo, there's a lot of humor and less angst than other shojo (so far at vol 6). It's really cute...